A serious project

Albany Civic Theater to stage version of ''Laramie Project,'' about killing of gay college student

By Michael Eck

Published 4:28 pm, Wednesday, January 30, 2013

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Matthew Shepard/examiner.com

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A serious project

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It's been almost 15 years since Matthew Shepard, a gay 21-year-old University of Wyoming student, was beaten, tortured and left for dead, tied to a fence like a scarecrow on the outskirts of Laramie, Wyo.

For many, the memory of Shepard's killing is still strong. Moises Kaufman's masterwork, "The Laramie Project," was designed with that idea in mind, using art to make sure that people never forget.

"The Laramie Project," Coons points out, is not structured with the usual theatrical arc. It is as much a documentary as a drama. As such, the text was built up from hundreds of interviews with townsfolk in the weeks and months following the crime.

The original members of the Tectonic Theater project are also characters in the play; and outside sources ranging from newscasts to journal entries are embraced in its ever-shifting array of scenes.

"It's one of those shows you can do pretty much any way you want," Coons says. "You can go see it five or six different times, and you'll always see a different show."

Coons is relatively new to ACT, and this is his first time directing a major piece on the Second Avenue stage. He was drawn to the troupe by board member and thespian Katie Weinberg, who happens to be his fiancee.

Both have worked together previously in Class Act productions, a 4-year-old theater company co-founded by Coons upon his 2002 graduation from the performing arts program at Schenectady County Community College.

"We actually met while playing a couple," he says, "Touchstone and Audrey, in Shakespeare's 'As You Like It.'"

Coons notes that many of his theater comrades at SCCC participated in a school production of "Laramie," directed by Sandy Boynton, and visited by Kaufman himself. He's spoken with them about the experience and also contacted the Matthew Shepard Foundation for research materials.

Coons confesses to being "quite novice when it comes to directing," but after doing the legwork, he feels ACT is the right space for "Laramie."

"It's a heart-wrenching story and it needs to be told, and it's never been told from ACT's viewpoint before."

All but the narrator play multiple roles in the show, which features more than 60 characters. Debbie Lummis' simple costume graces will help differentiate taxi drivers from bartenders and so on.

Coons admits that due to the tragic genesis and harsh honesty of the play — which addresses the brutality of hate crimes head on — it's not the right for show for everyone. But he hopes that those who do purchase tickets will come away from the show feeling transformed.

"I'm trying to accentuate the hope, the good coming out of evil. Yes, this is a tragedy, but look what we can learn from it. It's written in a way so as to not just be about Matthew Shepard, but about anyone like Matthew Shepard. This is something that we still need to look at as a country. This is a very serious matter."